Every week resident FADER selector Eddie STATS runs through dancehall riddims and other artifacts from the ghetto archipelago.
Nick Catchdubs put me up on this with a note that said: "some bizarre combinations on this, but its been growing on me." By bizarre, I think he means it's weird enough to hear Merciless and Spragga on a traphall beat—yes it's another JA rap kinda thing but not so much in a "Jail" or "Doh" vein as it is like "Dying" or "Real Badman" from Brooklyn deejay Fats’ but with xxxtra synths. But then you throw in Maxi Priest mixing it up with Vybz and Munga and Mad Cobra singing (kinda psychotically) through Demarco-style autocroon and it’s like: decades collide! Throwback to the future! Apparently Lenny Hype gave Jamaica’s continuity gal the day off on this one, it’s like watching a movie where the barbarian kings all have MTV hairstyles and beards nicely shaped up with Norelco beard-trimmers. Except I like this, this is time warp anachronism in a good way whereas in movies it’s just annoying.
Magazine riddim blend:
Mr. Easy, "What You Gonna Do"
Merciless, "War Motto"
Vybz Kartel, "Send fi di Magazine"
Spragga Benz, "Magazine"
Maxi Priest, "Never Judge"
Stacious, "Man Wey Can"
Mad Cobra, "Nuh Fraid"
Munga, "Gangsta Forever"
Mavado, "Caa Bad Me Up"
Also it’s called the Magazine riddim and for a second I thought: someone cares about magazines! But then I realized that its dancehall and they are talking about banana clips not Folio awards. Although, Spragga Benz does namecheck Vogue and Sister 2 Sister. Now, I ask y’all has either of those (probably fine) publications ever put Mavado or Busy Signal on the cover? Know your friends, Jamaica.
Anyway, it’s a good riddim.